Share on Facebook Share on X (Twitter) Today, the fight to protect the memory of Noah Pozner and the other victims and families impacted by the Sandy Hook massacre continues. But over the past six years, countless others affected by mass-casualty tragedies and widely publicized violence, individuals targeted with online hate and harassment campaigns, as well as officials baffled as to what to do about the proliferation of online hate, have reached out for advice and assistance. Recognizing the lack of protection for victims, the fundamental misunderstanding of the difference between protected “free speech” and illegal harassment and hate speech, and an often tone deaf response by politicians, lawmakers, law enforcement, and even social media platforms themselves, the focus of the HONR Network has expanded. Our goal is to empower victims and their families through education and advocacy. Our goal is to provide education to victims as well as to law enforcement, employers, and others who deal with victims of online aggression. Our goal is to help craft impactful policy and legislative reform that makes the internet a safer, more inclusive place for all. Our goal is to empower victims and their families through education and advocacy. Our goal is to provide education to victims as well as to law enforcement, employers, and others who deal with victims of online aggression. Our goal is to help craft impactful policy and legislative reform that makes the internet a safer, more inclusive place for all. Empowers Victims and their families HONR supports victims and families affected by mass violence, conspiracy theories, cyber hate, and online harassment. We help them understand the online climate, protect their digital presence, and work with platforms to reduce attacks. Through our professional network, we also connect them with legal, media, and counseling support. Victims and their families HONR supports victims and families affected by mass violence, conspiracy theories, cyber hate, and online harassment. We help them understand the online climate, protect their digital presence, and work with platforms to reduce attacks. Through our professional network, we also connect them with legal, media, and counseling support. Educates Social media and internet users At HONR, we believe education is the first line of defense against online hate and harassment. We work with media and social platforms to expose cyberhate, teach people how to identify and report illegal content, and promote awareness of users' rights and responsibilities online. Education is central to HONR's mission and long-term impact. Social media and internet users At HONR, we believe education is the first line of defense against online hate and harassment. We work with media and social platforms to expose cyberhate, teach people how to identify and report illegal content, and promote awareness of users' rights and responsibilities online. Education is central to HONR's mission and long-term impact. For effective anti-harassment policy HONR is a non-partisan organization that works with policymakers to develop practical solutions to combat cyber hate and harassment while protecting free speech. We advise on cyber hate issues, report its impact on victims and communities, and partner with social media and internet providers to address abuse and strengthen anti-harassment policies. As the names of the victims and their families emerged after the massacre, their anguish was met with a new round of unexpected hell. Extremists, believing that the government would either murder innocent people OR stage an elaborate crisis play, began making claims that the Sandy Hook School shooting was a hoax designed to repeal the Second Amendment.

Within hours, posts on blogs and social media began suggesting that there were no victims at Sandy Hook and that the grief-stricken parents were actually “crisis actors.” Conspiracy theorists began combing through the social media of the victims’ families, looking for “proof,” stealing photos and personal information that they then disseminated on their own sites, and harassing those who spoke out in support of gun control in the wake of the shooting. As the youngest victim, cherubic six-year-old Noah Pozner‘s picture became the media “go-to” photo when reporting on Sandy Hook. This, coupled with his mother Veronique’s eloquent and impassioned call for stricter gun control measures, and the family’s Jewish faith, quickly pegged the Pozners as the primary target for conspiracy theorists, as well as anti-government, white supremacist, and antisemitic groups. By the end of January, a mere six weeks after Noah was murdered, the attacks from some of the largest extremist platforms, which included radio and televised broadcasts with 10 million hits a month, were so relentless that Lenny Pozner, Noah’s father, wrote to the platforms, begging for compassion and relief. By this time, the conspiracy theorists had whipped their fans into a frenzy against the Pozners, so that thousands of followers were themselves posting Noah’s picture, often defaced, spreading “crisis actor” allegations, and sharing the family’s personal identification details on their own social media pages. As the names of the victims and their families emerged after the massacre, their anguish was met with a new round of unexpected hell. Extremists, believing that the government would either murder innocent people OR stage an elaborate crisis play, began making claims that the Sandy Hook School shooting was a hoax designed to repeal the Second Amendment. Within hours, posts on blogs and social media began suggesting that there were no victims at Sandy Hook and that the grief-stricken parents were actually “crisis actors.” Conspiracy theorists began combing through the social media of the victims’ families, looking for “proof,” stealing photos and personal information that they then disseminated on their own sites, and harassing those who spoke out in support of gun control in the wake of the shooting. As the youngest victim, cherubic six-year-old Noah Pozner‘s picture became the media “go-to” photo when reporting on Sandy Hook. This, coupled with his mother Veronique’s eloquent and impassioned call for stricter gun control measures, and the family’s Jewish faith, quickly pegged the Pozners as the primary target for conspiracy theorists, as well as anti-government, white supremacist, and antisemitic groups. By the end of January, a mere six weeks after Noah was murdered, the attacks from some of the largest extremist platforms, which included radio and televised broadcasts with 10 million hits a month, were so relentless that Lenny Pozner, Noah’s father, wrote to the platforms, begging for compassion and relief. By this time, the conspiracy theorists had whipped their fans into a frenzy against the Pozners, so that thousands of followers were themselves posting Noah’s picture, often defaced, spreading “crisis actor” allegations, and sharing the family’s personal identification details on their own social media pages. Have Experienced Hate or Harassment Online That Focuses on Their Physical Appearance, on Their Race or Ethnicity, on Their Age, or on Their Gender or Sexuality. Together, Through Empowerment, Education, and Advocacy We Can Effect Change and Create a Safer More Inclusive Online Experience for All. Help Us Achieve This Goal. Have Experienced Hate or Harassment Online That Focuses on Their Physical Appearance, on Their Race or Ethnicity, on Their Age, or on Their Gender or Sexuality. Together, Through Empowerment, Education, and Advocacy We Can Effect Change and Create a Safer More Inclusive Online Experience for All. Help Us Achieve This Goal. Legal achievements Lenny Pozner’s tireless pursuit of hoaxers and harassers who targeted him and his family in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy has resulted in legal precedent that makes it easier for other victims of online abuse to seek justice in court. Additionally, legislation is changing both in the US and around the world, to better reflect advances in technology. Keep up-to-date on legal achievements that protect us all from online abuse Read more Read more Legal achievements Lenny Pozner’s tireless pursuit of hoaxers and harassers who targeted him and his family in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy has resulted in legal precedent that makes it easier for other victims of online abuse to seek justice in court. Additionally, legislation is changing both in the US and around the world, to better reflect advances in technology. Keep up-to-date on legal achievements that protect us all from online abuse 1 in 5 american adults have experienced prolonged online hate and harassment campaigns classified as severe, including threats of violence, sexual harassment, mobbing, pressure to suicide, pressure to quit their job, harassment that continues offline, and stalking.* Together, through empowerment, education, and advocacy we can effect change and create a safer more inclusive online experience for all. Help us achieve this goal. Donate now Donate now 1 in 5 american adults have experienced prolonged online hate and harassment campaigns classified as severe, including threats of violence, sexual harassment, mobbing, pressure to suicide, pressure to quit their job, harassment that continues offline, and stalking.* Together, through empowerment, education, and advocacy we can effect change and create a safer more inclusive online experience for all. Help us achieve this goal.